Day 1
We begin our adventure by taking mountain bikes on a longtail boat to Ban Ruammit elephant camp. This Karen village is surrounded by limestone mountains and is a great venue for an elephant trek and some hill tribe cuisine.
Back on our bikes for a stunning ride back to Chiang Rai city, stopping along the way for spectacular photo opportunities of hill tribe settlements and river valleys.
Early in the evening we check out some of Chiang Rai’s attractions then sample the culinary specialties at one of the city’s most authentic restaurants. Spend the evening at the Night Bazaar, sipping Thai whisky at a local haunt or perhaps enjoy a traditional Thai massage to soothe those aching legs.
Day 2
Select your scooter and set off for the beautiful mountain village of Doi Mae Salong, in the heart of The Golden Triangle. This 70km ride takes us through, up and over spectacular jungle covered mountains. We’ll spend tonight in a beautiful Chinese villa, perched on the side of a mountain. This town of 5,000 has a large Chinese population as well as various hill tribe communities.
Tonight at dinner, we’ll enjoy northern Thai favorites as well as local Chinese specialties. After, for the adventurous, we’ll knock ‘em dead at a karaoke hotspot.
Day 3
It’s back on the scooters for a full day of backcountry riding. We wind up, down and around twisty mountain roads as the hills of Burma line the horizon. This 60km ride takes us through a back entrance to Doi Tung Royal Gardens for lunch, and finally to Thailand’s most northern settlement, Mae Sai, on the Burmese border.
Day 4
You arise and decide upon two morning options: Breakfast in Burma and a visit to the Burmese border town of Thachilek; or a journey to Mae Sai’s markets and historical caves. From here we follow the Mekong River to the center of the infamous Golden Triangle for something just a little bit different. From this village that converges three nations (Myanmar, Thailand and Laos), the team is thrust down the Mekong River in a 100kph-plus, high-speed watercraft. We stop at a Burmese casino, take-in some Laotian fishing life and then it’s a wild bolt down the Mekong to the village of Chiang Khong.
Early evening escapades may involve anything from fishing for giant catfish, a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Mekong or a sing-a-long at a local Thai pub.
Day 5
Chiang Khong sits on the banks of the Mekong River, with Laos on the other side. This pristine area is home to some of the most remote and undisturbed hill tribe and jungle life in Thailand. We embark on a spectacular jungle trek and waterfall climb amongst sequestered hill tribes and virgin rain forest. Immerse yourself in champagne waterfalls surrounded by the greenest green you’ve ever seen!
Early in the evening we catch a well-earned shuttle back to the provincial capital of Chiang Rai.
